Machine for making wire cables for fences



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H. C. SIEG & J. T. WILEY. MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE GABLES FOR FENCES, m.

w m WW W 1 Mu a 1 c 0. fl W9 2. W W m uv vi A a w k .+b

6N0 Model.) I 2 Sheets-Shea 2.

H. O. SIEG 8v J. T. WILEY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE GABLES FOR FENCES, &c.

No. 409,248. Patented Aug-20, 1889..

@Qbfmcmm i i] wvew E06 NITED STATES PATENT HENRY (J. SIEG AND JONAS 1. HEY, OF LISCOMH, 1()\\"A.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,248, dated August 20, 1889.

Application iiledOctgbcr 6,1888. Sena-1N0. 287,404. (in model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY O. SIEG and JONAS T. WILEY, of Liscomb, in the county of Marshall andState of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for ltlakingi w'ire Cables for Fences, &c.; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable'others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to an improvement in machines for twisting wire, and more particularly to such as are used in the manufacture of fences.

The object of our present invention is to produce a machine for twisting wire by means of which the twisting of the separate strands of wire is prevented. 4

A further object is to provide a wire-twisting machine which shall be simple in construction, employ a comparatively small number of parts, and be effective in operation.

A further object is to improve the parts generally which go to makeup the wire-twisting machine. 4

With these objects inview our invention consists in the novel construction and peculiar combinations and arrangements of parts,

as will be hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of our 1m rovedmachine.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view ot the same on line Z Z of Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a bottom plan view of the twisting and winding mechanism. Fig. t is an enlarged view of the wirefeeding reels. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view-of the feeding tension device.

A indicates a suitable frame-work, comprising side timbers 13, end connecting-timbers (J C, and central cross-timbersi) l). Journaled on one of the end timbers C and cross-timber 1-) are two revoluble frames E E, pro 'ided at or near onc end with sprocket-wheels fixed to said revoluble frames and adapted to rotate therewith, said sprocket-wheels being connectcd by aQsprocket-chain F. The journal at the opposite end of one of the frames E is cxtcndedsomcv'hat beyond its bearing and yond its bearing on the cross-timber (.1, is proprovided with a sprocket-wheel G. A frame H is journaled on'the end timber C and cross-timber D, the journal a at the inner end of said frame being extended somewhat beyond its. bearing and provided with a sprocket-wheel I, p referably about half the size of the sprocketwheels F. J ournaled in boxes 0 c on the timbers C D,-?eneath the revoluble frames E, is

a shaft J, which, being extended slightly bevided with a fixed sprocket-wheel J, the periphery of the outerv portion of said wlieel'being made smooth to serve as a band-wheel J adapted to receive astrap from any convenient source of power. Motion is imparted from the sprocket-wheel J to the sprocket-wheel G by means of a sprocket-chain J passing over said Wheels. Keyed to the shaft J near itsinner end is a sprocket-wheel J adapted to impart motion to the sprocket-wheel I of frame ll through the medium of a sprocket-chain J passing over said wheels J 4 I. An arm K, having a curved inner end, is preferably secured to the side timbers B'and adapted to bear at its curved end against the chain J 5 and maintain said chain in contact with the Wheels JI.

The frames E E are journaled side by side in the frame-work and geared to revolve in the same direction,and as these frames and attachments'are identical a description of one will sufiice for both. p

The frames E may be made of wood, iron, or other suitable material, and are preferably of oblong shape. Journaled in the outer portion of the frames E are reels L for the reception of a roll of wire L. As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, these reels L are made in two parts, comprising collars Z) l) and integral arms I) if, extending at right angles thereto. The collar I) is loosely mounted on a pin or axle I)",

fixed to and projecting from one of the side bars of the frame E, while the collarb' is rigidly secured to a shaft or arbor U, journaled in the opposite side bar of said frame, the arms b h,projecting from said collars, being opposed to each other and connected by pins (l, secured to the arms and adapted to enter perforations in the arms b Before the pins d: are passed through the perforations in the arms b a roll of wire L put upon the pinsd and the collar bmade to approach the ,collar b until the pins (l ef: the 'arms b 611t.e1"

the perforations of the arms 12 When the roll of wire shall have been placed upon the reels L, as above described, it is necessary that means be provided forv proventin g the parts of the reel from sepz'tratin g, and thus releasing the roll of wire thereon. To accomplish this p1np'ose;a 1atee is pivoted to one of the side bars of the frame E and hasits inner end bent downwardly at right angles and adapted to'bear against thecollar b and prevent the latter from leaving the roll' of wire L, said downwardly-bent portion of the plate or arm 2 being cut away to tit over the shaft e If. A springf is fixed to'the frame E at one end and hears at its opposite endupon the plate or arm 6 to retain said plate in place.

J0111lla ld incach frame E in advance of the reels Lisa tension device M, the construc- ;tion of which willino'w'be explained.

Two disks g g, having outwardly-turned peripheries, are mounted upon a shaft 71-, which is: preferably screw-threaded throughout the greater portion of its length, a portion at its extremities being left smooth to form jour-' nals. The disk g, having short pins 9 projecting therefrom near its periphery and at right anglesto its face, isscrewed upon the shaft,,and1a"nut g? is also screwed upon the shaftbehindthe disk 9 to retain said disk in ,a fixed position Thediskg, having a central perforation of suffici'ent size to move over madeto receive them. I placed upon the shaft h that their outwardlythe. screw-threads,is lnerit placed upon the shaft, the pins g? offth'e' disk g entering and passing through perforations'in the disk g,

turned peripheries will project in opposite directions, and thus enable the wire to be readily inserted between thenuas hereinafter explained; lnorder to maintain the disks g giinclose proximity to each other and to a 1: certain degree clampthg'ewi res between them,

P h in reanof the loosel V ing atzoneend aga" other end againsha=-washer]t', screwed upon toeneirele-the shaft -mou' 'n ted disk g, bearid: disk and at the a spiral spring 'q is n the shafth. The partsflbeing placed upon the shaft. 71 as above described, said shaft will be journaled in the frame ll in advance of the reels L, as above stated; It will be seenthat l the tension of thespringfg, and consequently ing them: 'h: It:

--'framc -1 *thetension upon thewi'rcpassing between the may be readily regulated by screwherg hf moreor less upon the shaft )f course understood that each is irowirlerl with a teiisio n' device disks gfqi,

such asabovedescribed. f Al a -m "i sepcn red to each framel l and pro," lhetween the'reel Land tension device} andfirovided atits extremity. with an eyepthreiigli which the wire is adapted to ass, tnd thu's be guided oh its way from the reel ijlOflAl'Ilsion device M. The journals at the inner ends of the frames E are made hollow and preferably projected somewhat beyond their The disks g g are so connected. at its tension-reel bearings, as shown in Fig. 1. The inner ends of the frames are provided with perforations which align with the"op'enings in the journals, through which the wires from the reels -L are adapted to pass.

The frame II, above referred to, is journaled in'the framework fat ihcwpposite end from the framesE and is considerably larger than thefranies E,sai d;,fra 1nell being made of wood, metal, or other suitablematerial.

The journalaat the inner end of the frame II is made hollow and extended somewhat beyond its bearing for the reception of the sprocket-wheell. A perforation is made in the end of the frame ll iii-alignment with the opening in the journal a, the opening in said journal being made lfunnel-shaped' atits inner end for the reception of thestrands of wire from the reels L, fsai'd strands" of; wire first passing around posts laflocatedoha portion of the frame-work of the' nac'h'ne immcdia-t-ely in front of the openingof the hollow journals of the revoluble frames E;

Mounted centrally on a shaft N, journaled in suitable braeketshlflfixed to the side bars of frame H near its inner. end,"is a tensionreel 0. The shaft Nwill preferably bescrewthreaded throughout the gr aterlportion of its length, the extremitiesjjbe' "g left smooth to form journals upon" which the 'shaft is adapted to rotate inthehraekets N? The reel 0 may becomposed of two disks Z, connected at a suitable distancefrom. their peripheries by rods Z and screwed upon the shaft N, thev whole beingretained' 'i-n place upon the shaft-by means of nuts 1?, screwed upon the shaft behind eachdisk'l. It is evident that the tension -r e el 0- may loci-keyedupon a smoothshaft, ifdesired, f lieu of securing it to a serewethreadedsha above described. A toothed wheel I; 1S1 erewed upon the shaftNnear one, end andlretained in position bymeansof washerssifcwed up tight against saidwheel ateaeh sidethereof. Pivoted in a bracket vP secured to the frame H, Fig. 3, is a lever Q,ad a pted to engage the teeth of the wheel P at 'onei'end andearrying a roller at its oppositeend to engage the inclined side of art-arm ;Q' ,sec'u'red itolone of the side timbers B; a e'th is eriod c ly lease the wheel" 1?; :as Xp'laiii f' iitheron, the lever Q being-nor, Y

Q secured, :at on ver (2:

The side bar ofathe frame in ear of the A Q- arei provided with elengated reeess'e's m for 'thereception of m of two slidingbloc ks-R. BodsR aresccured at one end to? oneend-of the blocks ed to pass loosely. ant-heir other e ate @114 the 'slidin g blocks R, to maintain the latter in normal rearward position.

J ournaled in one of the sliding blocks R at one end and at thc other end in a loose sleeve .2, mounted in the other sliding block R, is a placed loosely upon the shaft "S and made to the loose collar z-,'by means of pins 11 project rotate with aratchet-wheel' S, mounted on ing from the face' of,the wheel S and made to embrace one of the cross-bars Sh Bythus mountingthereel S upon the shaft S it may be removed when filled and replaced by a newbne, such removal being permitted by the withdrawal of the shaft S sufliciently to permit the reel to be liberated from the pins 91 and move freely out of the'frame. The strands of wire to be twisted, having passed through the hollow journal at of frame H and the perforation in thei nner end of. said frame, an passed once around the tensionreel 0 andthento the reel S In order to prevent the wires passing about the tensionreel 0 from crossing after being twisted, a plate T, secured to the frame H,projects over .the tension-reel and is provided with two downwaidly-projecting pins 0, said pins being. on opposite sides of the wire-onein rear of the reel 0 and the other in advance thereof-and having ribbed wheels a mounted thereon to prevent injury to barbs when such are secured to the wire cable. p

In order to draw the strands of wire through the machine and wind the twisted wire, upon the receiving-rcelSZ a ratchet mechanism is provided, which operates. to rotate the receiving-reel S and'thus feed the wire through the machine. A shaft U is journaled in the frame I]. near its outer end and providcd near one end with a crank-arm U, to which is attached one end of a dog V, the other end of said dog being preferably bent into hook shape and adapted to engage the teeth of the wheel S and operate the same'as the crankshaft U is rotated.- A spring-arm W, Fig. 3, securedto the frame ll, is adapted to bear on the dogV and maintain it in engagement with 'the wheel-S. A spring-pawl W is secured at one end to' one of the sliding blocks R at the opposite side of the frame from the dog V, and at'the other end engages the teeth of;

- the wheel S and prevents said wheel from turning in the wrong direction.

The crank-shaft U is provided with a bevel-j pinion X, adapted to mesh with abcveI-pinion X', fixed to the end of a shaft X The shaft X passing througha perforation in the outer end of the frame I l and hollowjournal a: of said frame, is squared at itsouter ere-- tremity and iitted'in a square opening in a bracket X fixed to theend connecting-timber C. Thus it will be seen that the shaft X and its pinion X" are stationary, and that as the frame If is rotated on its bearings the pinion X'on the crank-shaftU will mesh with the pinion X on the shaft X? and cause the crank-shaft to be rotated. I It will be perceivedthat the revoluble parts in the frames E E H are all made to rotate at right angles to the direct-ion in which said frames revolve and that the frames E E revolve in the same direction and at the same time as the frame II, thus preventing the twisting of the individual strands of wire before the two strands are twisted together.

The rolls of wire L being placed upon the a strand of wire is carried from each of said between the disks g g of the tension devices M. After making one revolution between these disks upon the pins g the wires are carried through the ends of the frames E and their hollo'w shafts, around the posts It, and through the hollow journal of the frame If, where the two strands meet.

around the tension-reel O and then secured to the reel S The machine'is now ready for operation.

Motion being imparted to the handavheel direction-the frame II making an entire revolution at each half-revolution of the framesE E--and the two strands of wire will betwisted together between the tension-reel O and the outer extremity of the journal (1; of the frame II. If desired, the gearing may be so arranged as to cause the frames E and H to rotate at the same rate of speed, During the first half= revolution of the frame ii the dog V is being withdrawn over the teeth of the wheel S by the revolution of the crank-shaft U, and the lever'Q engages a tooth of the wheel P, cans in g a momentary stop of the revolution of the tension-reel O and permitting the twisted wire being wound on the reel S to tighten and be wound closely. During the second half of a revolution of the frame H'the lever Q willengagc the inclined surface of the arm Q and become disengaged from the wheel P, and the crank-shaft will complete its revolution and cause the dog V to engage wheel S and cause said wheel to make a partial revoreel S and causing the tension-reel O to rotate until another tooth of the wheel Q is reached. The winding of the twisted wire upon the reel S will also draw the wire through the machine from the reels'L of the frames E E, and should it happen that the tension on the wire becomes too great, such excess of tension will be compensated for y by the springs R and sliding blocks, B. These springs are located in front of and bear against the blocks, and permit the latter,- when the tension of the wire is suffieieiit to overcome the power of the springs,

reels L in the frames E, as previously stated,

reels through the eyes of the arms '5, thence J the frames E E H all revolve in the same The two strands 4 of wire, now close together-,are carried once lution, thus winding the twisted wire upon the to move forwardly sufficiently to compensate for the increased tension. -Thus itwill be seen that'tlie wire holding and twistingmech the twisting of the separate wires will. be to that twists the individual wires, such twista great extent prevented.

Bypreventing the individual twisting of the' wires a' smallerwlre may be used, and

'hence'produ'ce a greater length of fence to a given weight than with larger wire of the same weight which is twisted on a machine ing tending to weaken said wires.

Many slight changes might be made in the constructive details of our invention without departing from the spirit thereof; hence we do not desire to restrict ourselves to the precise details of construction herein set forth; but, 4

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letthe fra1ne-work',fsliding bearings carried by tersPatent, is-

1. In a wire-twisting machine, the combination, with a series of revolublc frames carrying reels for wire and a separate revoluble frame carrying a receiving-reel, of gearing for revolving all of said frames in the same direction, a feeding and tension reel mounted in the frame carrying the receiving-reel, and mechanism for intermittingly stopping and releasing said tension-reel, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with suitable framework, of a series of revoluble frames mounted therein and carrying reels for wire, a frame revolubly mounted in the frame-work and carrying a reel for the reception of twisted wires, a ratchet-wheel and dog, means for actuating said dog for rotating said reel to wind the wire cable and draw said wires through the machine, and gearing for rotating all of said frames in the same direction and operating the ratchet mechanism, substantially as set forth. The combination of a tension device consisting of a screw-threaded shaft made conical at its ends to form journals, two disks havin g outwardly-flanged peripheries mounted on said shaft, one rigidly and the other loosely, pins secured to oneof said disks and passing through perforations in the other, a nut on the shaft, and a spring encircling the shaft r l r v disk, substantially as set forth. 7.

between said nutandthe loosely-mounted 4". The combination, with a l 1 part reel,.one: part of wl"eh is movable toprojecting arms, one of said ward and away from the pac -pas, and a rest for-therolt of wire secured tonne of said parts, of airarm carried by the frame for lockin g the movable parts of the ,1' I .e'l operative to the ot ier part, subposition witlnrelation stan'tially as set forth,

'lhecombination-of a reeleonsisting of twoshafts, two collars carrying outwardly no, a two secured "to? the main. frame} ill ajrs bei ng loosely mounted on its shaft and the other revoluble with its shaft, pins fixed to the arms of one'coll'ar'and projecting into perforations-1n the other set of arms, and an, arm

on the frame in'which the reelismou-nted to maintain the parts "in position substantially assetforthbj I 6. The combination, with 'sni-tablegframework, of a series of revoluble franiesmountod therein, reels for carrying wire mounted in said frames, tension devices also carried by said frames, a revoluble frame mounted in the frame-work,bearings yieldingly mounted in said frame, a reel carriedby said yielding bearings for receiving twisted wires, and gearing for revolving-all of said frames in the same direction and operating the receiving-reel, substantially as set forth. ,1

. 7. The combination,:with; suitable framework, of a series of revoluble framesanounted therein, reels for carrying wireniounted in said frames, tension devices also mounted in said frames, a revoluble frame-mounted in said frame, a reel for receiving twisted wi res mounted in said slidingbearings, springs also mounted in said revolnblehframeand hearing on the sliding hearings; to maintain the same in a normal rearward position, and gearing for rotating all of said frames in the same direction and operating the receivingreel, substantially as set forth. v

S. The combination, with suitable framework, of a series ofrevoluble frames mounted in the frame-work, reels and tension devices mounted in said frames, a single frame revolubly mounted'in-the frame-work and carrying a reel for receiving twisted wires, a tension-reel mounted in-said single'framein advance of the receiving-reel, a toothediwheel mounted on the same shaft with saidtensionreel, a spring-actuated;leverpivoted to the frame and adapted ,to. engage said, toothed whcel, an arm on the main frame.withlwhich the pivoted lever makes contact to periodically release the toothed wheel, and gearing for rotating all of said frames in the same direction and operating the receiving-reel, substantially as set forth.

9. The con'ibination, with-suitable framesaid; sliding bearings. for 'eceivii'ig. twisted.

springs also mounted in said single wires,

bearings of frame and bearing on .the slidin the rece1v1ng-reel,a tension-reel mounted in.

the single-revoluble frame, .a toothed wheel on the: same shaft withQthe tension-reel, a spring-actuated lever, pivoted to, the framework and engagingthetootli' d wheel; an arm h which the pivoted. ll-verimal contact to ieriodic ally release the 1 th '1 wheel, and gearing to rotate all of sai ll new inthe same direction IIO and operate the receiving-reel, substantially as set forth.

10. lncombination, a tension-reel consistingof two disks mounted on a screw-threaded shaft and connected near their peripheries by aseries of baranuts on said shaft to re tain said reel in a fined position on the shaft,

a ratehetwheel on the shaft, a spring-sustained lever to engage the ratchet-wheel,- and an arm on the frame with which said lever engages to intermittingly release said tensionreel, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of a receiving-reel mounted on aloose 't, a ratchehwheel mounted loosely on said shaft, pins on the sage of the wires from the reels on the series of revoluhle frames, a tension-reel mounted in said single frame, over which the wires pass after being twisted, a guard secured to the revoluble frame to prevent the twisted cable crossing on the tension-reel, a receiving-reel in rear of said tension'reel, and gearingvto rotate all theframes in the-samedirection and operate the receiving-reel to Wind the twisted cable and draw the wires through the-machine, substantially as set forth. I

13. The combination, with a frame and a reel mounted therein, of a guard-plate secured tothe frame and pins projecting from said guard-plate in advance and in rear of the reel, so that a Wire passing over the reel will pass on one side of one pin before reaching the reel and on the other side of the other pin on leaving the reel, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination, with a revoluole frame, a reel for wire mounted therein, and a tension-reel also. mounted in said revoluhle frame, of a guard-plate secured to the frame and extending in proximity to the tensionreel, and pins projecting from the guardplate, one in advance and one in rear of the tension-reel, substantially as set forth.

15. The combinatiomwith a revolubl'e frame, a reel for wire mounted therein, and a ten-. sion reel also mounted in said revoluble frame, of a guard-plate secured to the frame and extending in proximity to the tensionreel, pins projecting from said guard-plate, one in advance and the other in rear of the tension-reel, and grooved rollers mounted on said pins, substantially asset forth. v

16. The combination, with suitable framework, of a series of revoluble frames mounted therein, reels and tension devices mounted in said frames, a single revoluble frame mounted in the frame-work, a receiving-reel in said single frame, a ratchet-wheel mounted on the same shaft with the receiving-reel, a crank-shaft mounted in said revoluble frame, a dog attached to the crank-shaft and engaging with the ratchenwheel, a spring to maintain the dog in contact with said wheel, a pinion on the crank-shaft, a pinion on a shaft fixed to the framework and meshing with the pinion on the crankshaft, and gearing for rotating all of said "reels in thefsame direction, substantially as set forth.

17. In a Wire-twisting machine, the combination, with suitable frame-work, of a series of revoluble frames mounted in said framework, the journal at one end of each revoluble frame being made hollow for the passage of Wire and having teeth on a portion of its -HENRY C. SIEG.

JONAS T. WILEY,

Witnesses:

E. D. \VHITACRE, N. R. HA L. 

